Hi people! I've run out of things to say in these intros. I'll keep it short:

I already had this written when I wrote chapter 7 but I wanted to wait a few days to post it. Here it is! Thank you all for reviewing, favoring and voting. For those who haven't reviewed, why not? I love hearing what you think, regardless if it's good or bad.

Thank you everyone here on Wattpad. Thank you for voting and it warms my heart to see some people have read my work! Wow, #3 on ericahale. I'm truly humbled, although I'm not entirely sure what that means. XD If someone wants to try to explain that to me, I would really appreciate it! Alright, read away! :)

I awoke to voices talking all around me. Still half conscious, I picked up snippets of conversation.

"He's been out for at least two hours. Should we take him to medical?"

"The CIA's going to have a cow when they realize Erica's gone."

"They alright have."

"Mr. Ripley needs to to wake up for questioning. Someone wake him up."

"He was knocked unconscious, ya doofus. You can't just wake him up."

"Mr. Henning heard shouting from his room next to Miss Hale's. These rooms are so crappy. Poor kids. The walls are paper thin."

"Think we should take Mr. Henning into questioning?"

"Did anyone find Erica?"

"Why was Ben knocked out in Erica's room?"

"That's why we need to wake him up!"

"Shut up."

"Wait, did his eyes flutter?"

Through my squinted eyes, I noticed Zoe and Jawa looking annoyed with a bunch of random CIA agents. They were all looking at me with a mix of concern or annoyance etched on their expression.

"Ben?" Zoe asked, concerned.

I exhaled, just waking up.

"Uhhh." I groan.

"Enough of this!" said this snappy agent who was obviously in a bad mood, "Are still drinking that? Thanks."

She violently grabbed this poor agent's water and promptly dumped the whole cup on me.

"Ahh!" I sat up, angrily sputtering. I shot the agent (who I dubbed 'Water Balloon') a nasty stare.

"That worked." Water Balloon said smugly.

Hacking on the water, I sat up. Immediately, the questions started up.

"Why were you in Erica's room?"

"Why were you knocked out?"

"Who knocked you out?"

"Where is Erica?"

I tuned out most of their conversations until one in particular stood out.

"Wait what about Erica?" I had a suspicion she was leaving, but I had to get this new information.

"She disappeared. We don't know where or how she left. You are the only one who might know what happened. Why were unconscious in Erica's room?" Zoe asked.

I wasn't sure Erica wanted me to share her whereabouts with a getaway bag, but again, she hasn't been the most nice or loyal to me recently.

But I opted to lie anyway, "I don't know." I say, somewhat believable.

Unfortunately, it wasn't that believable. "Yeah right," Water Balloon sneered, "Mr. Ripley, we are here to detain you for questioning under the suspicion of kidnapping Erica Hale."

I can't hide my gasp of surprise.

"WHAT?! I'm accused of kidnapping Erica? I was unconscious in her room!" I exclaim, "How could this happen? I was knocked out in her room! How could I have done this?"

"We don't know. Why don't you tell us and avoid the hassle of having to interrogate you." Water Balloon said, a small, smug grin appearing on her face.

"You'll have to interrogate him?" Jawa asked, confused.

"How does he not know why or how he was in Miss. Hale's room? That's absurd. Did someone knock him out in his room and drag him into Erica's room and suddenly she disappears? That makes no sense!" Another annoying agent next to Water Balloon snapped.

"Well, maybe the whole thing was framed and the kidnapper wanted Ben to be accused." Jawa retorted angrily.

"We don't know for sure until we question Mr. Ripley." With that, an agent sneaks behind me and snaps a pair of handcuffs on my wrist and yanks me up.

Zoe and Jawa protest, but I say, "Guys, it's fine. Question me all you want. I have nothing to hide." That was an obvious lie and it didn't help my case with the CIA agents in the room. Zoe and Jawa backed off, but they looked concerned for me.

"Okay, but we know you didn't do it Ben." Zoe said, and walked out.

Two agents flanked me, and we walked toward god knows where.

XXX

Turns out, I was "lucky" and could see an area "not many students get to see." Yep. I was super "lucky." An interrogation room. Surprisingly, it wasn't scary and intimidating. In fact, it was kind of charming. There was a nice lounge waiting area, framed inspirational posters and new age music playing softly through the complex. I guess they wanted to calm the subjects before they make them spill their guts. Though I honestly found it all creepy.

They lead me to some type of interrogation room with a weird plush couch. Wow, those spy movies need to update their interrogation chambers. They sat me on the couch and handcuffed me to it. And just ditched me. Wow, thanks, dude.

And I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, when I couldn't take it anymore, I glanced at the clock. It's been eight minutes. Darn.

At last, I heard commotion outside of the door. I heard a few sets of footsteps and one angry voice yell,

"I DON'T CARE!" A familiar voice roared, "I want to see that wicked rat that kidnapped my granddaughter!"

I cringed. If Cyrus Hale thought I kidnapped his granddaughter, I was in for one horrible night.

He barged in. It was kind of funny. He was so out of place in this female teenage's looking room. His old face was red in anger.

"You miserable pest! I will make this the worst night of your life! Where is Erica Hale ya disgraceful son of a - wait, Ben?" His once furious expression turned to confusion, "What are you doing here?"

I gave Cyrus a sheepish grin, "I was accused of kidnapping Erica."

"You?" Cyrus scoffed and turned to the agent accompanying him, "Is this a joke?"

The agent violently shook his head, "No sir. Mr. Ripley was found unconscious in Miss. Hale's room and she vanished. We can only assume it was Ripley here."

Cyrus scoffed again, "Ben couldn't kidnap a fly if he tried. There's no way he could kidnap the best junior spy at the academy. Erica could fight Ben off in her sleep."

I should have been disappointed in the lack of trust in my skill, but there's no questioning that. Erica once beat me in hand-to-hand combat class while eating a salad.

The agent looked uneasy, "Um... okay sir. But it is advised you still ask Ripley questions."

Cyrus shot the agent a nasty look, "Young man, you look barely out of high school. I've been protecting this country since your grandma and grandpa were in Pampers. So shut up and let me do my job." And then Cyrus proceed to ask me questions.

"So Ben, why were you Erica's room?" The agent rolled his eyes. I didn't really know who I could trust, but I know I can trust Cyrus. He, out of everyone, is least likely to betray his own granddaughter.

So I told him everything. I started with the trip to her room and finding the folder. I told him everything up to the point where she knocked me out. I only left one part out: the suspicious activity of Audrey. I had no solid proof, so I didn't want her to get in trouble (and that's what would happen if I told Cyrus) for something she didn't do.

After I told him everything, he said, "Wow." He looked frazzled and ran his hand through his graying hair.

I asked him a bold question, "Do you think Erica betrayed the CIA?"

He gave me a look, but didn't explode at the question, "Under normal circumstances, I would say no. But now, I'm not so sure."

I nodded, excepting that. It seemed that Erica left her grandfather in the dark about her plan. Unless he was a super good liar. Oh wait... that's his job. Shoot.

"Alright well..." He stood up and motioned for the agent, "Unlock him. He's not a threat. We need someone on this right away."

The agent grudgingly unlocked the cuffs and Cyrus lead me out of the weird room with the plush couch.

We started to walk and I noticed he was leading me towards the Nathan Hale Building (named after his and Erica's great, great, great, great... grandfather).

"Why are we going towards the Hale Building?" I ask.

Cyrus gave me a disappointed glance and said, "Well, it's obvious. Erica's missing or kidnapped. Whatever the case is, we need to find her. We need to talk to that douchebag principal of yours. There needs to be a mission initiated, ASAP. We need to get to the bottom of this."

XXX

We reach the principal's office and I walk in first. The principal, with his horrible toupee (this time, it looked like a dead rabbit with rabies) sneered at me as I walked in.

"Oh, you miserable delinquent. Why are you here, disturbing - Oh! Mr. Hale! A pleasure to see you, as always." It was evident that the Idiot looked up to Cyrus, but more importantly, could get him fired if Cyrus really wanted to.

"Never a pleasure to see you." Cyrus grumbled.

The principal frowned, but said nothing.

"What are you doing about your missing student?" Cyrus demanded.

The principal shot him a confused look, "A missing student...? Oh right!" The Idiot quickly recovered, "Yes, your granddaughter! Of course! We have our best agents on it, right now! In fact, the results from her room should be coming back right now..." He was cut off by Cyrus's shouts.

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT SOME STUPID RESULTS! I WANT MY GRANDDAUGHTER BACK, AND I WANT IT NOW." If I hadn't know better, I would think it was a toddler throwing a tantrum at Toys R Us. Nonetheless, I was scared of this outburst. Cyrus is very scary when he wants to be, which is always. The principal seemed intimidated as well.

"Well, um... of course sir! Right away! We must organize, a... , a... mission! Of course! With our best men!" The principal stuttered.

"Not your best men," Cyrus growled, "I'll tell you who's going. Ben Ripley, of course. He is in the center of all of this." The principal gave me a nasty look, but said nothing.

Cyrus continued, "I think that the girl Zoe should go, that guy Mike, Chip, even though he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, Jawa and we need an advanced agent. Uhmm..." He thought for a moment, "Hey, isn't that new girl Audrey talented? Isn't she top, under Erica of course, of the summer schooling program and was in the finals of the tournament?"

The principal nodded. A feeling of unease went through my body. As much as I had no proof of Audrey doing anything, I still didn't trust her. I didn't want her on this mission. But I couldn't say anything, or that'll open a whole can of worms.

"Yeah, that Audrey girl. I want her the leader and head of the mission. No adults. The CIA's as corrupt as it is anyway." Cyrus demanded.

The principal quickly authorized the mission, "Yes sir. Everything's good to go. Audrey, huh, I don't see a last name, will lead Operation Yeasty Meerkat." Cyrus and I both cringed at the name. But I had more concerning things on my mind:

Audrey who doesn't have a last name and who I don't trust is in charge of a mission. And me.